Gospel Reflections #973: Please Save my Family

1 Samuel 22:3 "David went to Mizpah in Moab and asked the king of Moab, ‘Please let my parents come and stay with you until I know what God will do for me.’"

This passage depicts the moment when David, whilst fleeing from King Saul, entrusted his parents to the king of Moab in an attempt to ensure their safety.

Although David himself was a fugitive and his life was in danger, he prioritised the safety of his elderly parents, who were also at risk of retaliation from Saul, over his own.

As for why he turned to Moab, a nation with which Israel was sometimes at odds, it is thought that this was due to the family ties stemming from the fact that David’s great-grandmother, Ruth, was a Moabite.

Relying on this family connection, he sought humanitarian protection.

Furthermore, David demonstrates an attitude of waiting and hoping not for ‘what he can do himself’, but for ‘what God will do for him (what plans He has)’.

Even in the midst of suffering, this is a confession of faith acknowledging that sovereignty over his life lies with God.

It seems to me that David is teaching us the importance of ‘cherishing our immediate family first’, even in difficult circumstances, and of ‘continuing to wait for God’s guidance even amidst the anxiety of an uncertain future’.

At all times, we should seek the peace that comes from our relationship with God—the capacity to care not only for ourselves, but also for God’s family, our earthly family, and all manner of people.

For there is not a single person whom God does not love!

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.